Barkley: Nba Championship Is Our Destiny

June 19, 1993|By Sam Smith, Pro basketball writer.

These Phoenix Suns just simply refuse to be destiny's victims.

They've refused to accept biology, that they're too small and too weak to play the Bulls, survivors of the Eastern Conference wars. And they've refused to accept fate, that it was they who would be witness to the Bulls' induction into NBA history.

"I believe it's our destiny to win a world championship," said Charles Barkley. "We've believed that for the last year. We didn't care we were down 3-1. God wants us to win a world championship. I talked to him the other night."

But mostly, guys in purple answered, guys named Barkley (24 points Friday night), Kevin Johnson and Richard Dumas (25 points each). And they put a few cracks in the Bulls' empire of dreams with a 108-98 victory in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to send the series back to Phoenix for Game 6 Sunday.

And a city puffed up with expectations suddenly went flat.

"Hey Chicago," chortled Barkley, noting the contingency riot plans for a potential third straight title, "you can take the plywood off your windows now. You're safe."

But no longer from the Suns, who for the fifth time in these playoffs won in a game that could have ended their season if they had lost.

They did the unexpected, if not the previously impossible, in winning two of three games in Chicago after losing the first two.

"There was more pressure in the first round (falling behind 2-0 to the Lakers)," said Suns coach Paul Westphal. "This was nothing compared with that. We're relaxed and playing hard and showed we can play. If we're a good team, we should be able to win two games in Phoenix."

Before the game, Barkley had a razor in his hand, but it was the logo on his shirt that defined him and the Suns as they faced their potential demise Friday. "No fear," the words read.

Barkley was shaving his head before the game, something he does three times a week. "Got to look pretty," he proclaimed. "Lot of people gonna be watching, and there are a lot of people who want to see us lose."

The way the Suns bolted out to a 31-15 lead-although they led just 54-49 at halftime-showed their loose nature, prompted by Westphal and driven home by Barkley.

No deer staring into the headlight of destiny for these Suns.

"We knew we'd come out to play our best game of the series," said Westphal. "We have guys willing to stand up to any situation, so I didn't have to say much. They knew the situation they were in."

Which was providing the sparring partner for Bulls history.

But the Suns weren't ready to play tackling dummy quite yet.

To counter Michael Jordan's 55-point explosion from Game 4, the Suns switched back to the quicker Johnson on Jordan but also gave Johnson quick double-teaming help. The Bulls didn't catch on quickly enough to that tactic. But, more significantly, Barkley bulled in to get post position more aggressively than he has much of the series, especially early in the game.

"I was just trying to do the best I could and let whatever happens, happen," said Barkley.

But with Barkley posting up and going to the basket, that drew the Bulls' defense, which opened Dumas for slashes to the basket and open jumpers. And when Johnson drove, there wasn't the help this time, and he was able to get to the basket and pull up for short jumpers.

In addition, the Suns concentrated and fought for rebounds, especially on their defensive boards, and the Bulls had just two first-quarter offensive rebounds and were outrebounded 24-15 in the first half.

"We knew what we had to do on the boards," said Barkley.

The Suns led 33-21 after one quarter, but the Bulls' move to a small lineup brought them back into the game after Jordan had turned on the crowd by coming up behind Oliver Miller to block an easy layup.

With Armstrong and John Paxson in and staying in the corners, Jordan went to the top of the floor and when he drew the double team, hit Paxson, who was sharp with three straight three-pointers, including an uncharacteristic pump fake and three as Barkley flew by.

That stretch allowed the Bulls to surge back into a 45-42 lead, but they continued to shoot jumpers.

"We moved our feet better on defense," said Westphal.

"I always feel we're going to come back," said Barkley.

Phoenix moved back to Barkley again after going down, as he worked inside for a foul. Then Johnson again got down the lane for a hoop, and Dan Majerle finally found space for a three-pointer.

"We were just trying to save the city of Chicago," said Westphal, taking note of the disaster emergency plans and readiness of the National Guard for rioting if the Bulls won. "We were doing it for Chicago."